Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-09-22
PRESIDENTIAL POSSIBILITIES.

The Talk About General sherman
Bisine's Courss-Clsveland's Rosy Pros
poets.
WASHINGTON, September 20.--The Re
publican politicians at the National Capt.
toll who daily and hourly discuss the prob
abilities attending the nomination for
President to be made by the Republican
National Convention of 1888 were gener-
ally surprised to learn that movement
was ON foot, and cleverly engineered,
looking to the selection OF General Will
liam Tecumseh Sherman as the standard
bearer of their party. Many of them at
once put on their thinking caps and took
nav departure in canvassing the situation,
since it was apparent that new factors
were likely to be interpOsed which hlther-
TO had not been taken into the eonsldera-
ton of their premises.
Moreover, the movements and actions
of Mr.. Blaine, tarrying on the European
continent. are riddles none can read. He
has done those things he ought not to
have done and left undoDe those things
he was expected to do, and hence, so lar
as these gentlemen can perceive, there Is
no health in him. Everything to their
ewes is being shrouded in mystery, made
more impenetrable from the fact that Field
Marshal Murat Halstead, the intimate
friend and fdus Achates Of Mr.. Blaine,
inst returned from o cheek-by.iowl domi-
Gle with him abroad, has informed the
public through the medium Of the press
that the plumed knight will surely re-
main in Europe sill winter, and possibly
tarry there for twelvemonth or more
certainly for period beyond the meeting
of the Republican National Convention.
The Republican Babylonians, of which
kidney numerous disciples always follow
the fortunes of every political party, ever
ready To transfer their allegiance to the
presumably winning side, Immediately
protested to see new and shining virtues in
the way of availability attending the noml-
nation of General Sherman. True, he was
somewhat erratic and difficult to keep
within bounds, but Brother John" could
manage him and be the sheet anchor OF
his administration. Again, ii was high
time, in view of the encroachments Of the
Southern Democracy and their evident pre-
pouderance with Democratic administra-
ton, to put soldier at the head rather
than at the foot of the Republican ticket.
Had this course been pursued in 1884, with
Logan leading the column, in lieu of be-
ing tied, like tin kettle, to the tail Of the
Blaine mastiff, only to be snarled and
snapped at, the result, in their opinion,
would have been different. And so the
talk goes, boxing the compass Of Presiden'
tial candidates.
A gentleman who was present at Chicago
pending the deliberations of the Repuhli-
can National Convention of 1884 called on
you for the purpose Of explaining, as he
stated, the various matters in connection
with the candidacy of general Sherman.
"This is no new matter" said he, 1T is
not generally known, but il is neyerthe-
less absolutely true, that movement was
inaugurated to nominate General Sherman
mt the convention OF 1884. The manage
ment of the affair was placed in the charge
Of ex-senator Henderson, of Missouri, and
when that gentleman was chosen perman-
emit chairman of the convention those who
were in the secret felt sure that the scheme
would succeed. 1t was deeply-laid plot
to throw the politicians overheard, eSpec-
pecially Mr.. Blaine, and carry the conven-
ton by storm for General Sherman.
1T was believed that Blaine, Logan,
Arthur, and the dark horses would so en-
tangle each other that the outcome would
result in General Sherman's selection by
a coup de main that would take everybody
BY surprise. General Sherman was then
a resident of st. Louis, and the nomina-
ton was to be heralded as a Missouri or
Western triumph. But it so happened
that in the Oyer-fnesse of his strategy Mr..
Henderson bungled, time was not taken
by the forelOck, and the illegitimate
union between Logan and Blaine was
hurriedly cOnsummated before the gap
could be fairly opened for General Sher-
mans triumphal entry. The house OF
cards fell to pieces, and the blame was
laid at Mr.. Henderson's door. He had
not, it seems, taken into consideration the
extent of the existing hostility between
Logan and Arthur, and it is an open secret
that Logan was seduced into cooperating
with Blaine upon the accepted theory that
this was absolutely necessary TO defeat
Arthur.